Accounting and invoicing for affiliate marketers
Partner programmes, networks, commissions and ad spend: an affiliate marketer has many income sources with small amounts plus running costs for ads and tools. Saldiqo matches the payouts, writes invoices where partners need them and shows what is left after costs.
What comes up for affiliate marketers
Many payouts
Networks pay monthly or when a threshold is reached. You have to see which network paid when.
Ad spend and tools
Ad budgets, tracking, landing pages, hosting and tools are running costs that differ per project.
Own projects
Several sites, channels or shops run side by side. You want to know which project pays off.
How Saldiqo helps
- Match payoutsUpload the bank statement and separate receipts by network.
- Cost centre per projectAssign income and expenses to a project and see the report per cost centre.
- Invoices to partnersWhere partners want an invoice, you write it with period and commission.
- Capture receiptsRecord ad invoices and tools with their due date.
Typical invoice lines
Examples that often appear on invoices in this industry. You set the prices yourself.
- Commission as per statement for October
- Bonus for new customers in the quarter
- Fee for landing page optimisation
- Success commission as per contract
- Re-invoiced ad budget as per receipt
- Credit of the commission from the previous month
Tax and invoicing in the UK
What applies to invoices in the UK, in short. As of October 2026.
- VAT
- Standard rate 20 %, reduced rate 5 % and zero rate 0 %. Saldiqo calculates each invoice line with the rate you pick.
- VAT registration
- You must register once your taxable turnover passes £90,000 over any 12 months, or you expect to pass it within the next 30 days. You can deregister below £88,000. Until you are registered, your invoices show no VAT, and Saldiqo adds up your 12-month turnover for you.
- What goes on an invoice
- If you are VAT registered: your VAT number, the tax point, unit prices and the VAT total in pounds. A limited company shows its registered name on every invoice, and its company number, registered office and part of the UK on letters, order forms and the website.
- E-invoicing
- There is no mandate today. From April 2029 e-invoicing is planned for all B2B and B2G sales that carry VAT, through Peppol. The exact date and standard are not yet in law, and the government’s roadmap follows with the Budget on 28 October 2026.
- VAT returns
- VAT returns go to HMRC through Making Tax Digital, usually quarterly, due one month and seven days after the period. Saldiqo shows sales and VAT per rate and exports CSV. It does not submit to HMRC, and for Making Tax Digital you need software recognised by HMRC.
- Record keeping
- Keep VAT records for 6 years.
- Late payment
- Statutory interest on late business payments is the Bank Rate (3.75 % in the second half of 2026) plus 8 points, so 11.75 %. On top comes fixed compensation of £40, £70 or £100, depending on the amount owed (under £1,000, from £1,000, from £10,000). Consumers have no statutory interest.
- Getting paid
- Your sort code and account number are on every invoice. Customers pay by Faster Payments or Bacs, and banks check the account name with Confirmation of Payee. There is no QR standard in the UK.
Frequently asked questions
How do I record network payouts?
You upload the bank statement. The receipts are income. How you treat them for tax, especially for networks abroad, you clear with your tax adviser.
Can I evaluate projects separately?
Yes, with cost centres. You assign income and expenses per project.
Do affiliate marketers in the UK have to charge VAT?
Only once they are VAT registered. Registration is required when taxable turnover passes £90,000 over any 12 months, or is expected to within the next 30 days. Below that you may register voluntarily. If you are not registered, you must not show VAT on your invoices.
Do affiliate marketers in the UK need e-invoicing?
Not today. A mandate for B2B and B2G sales with VAT is planned from April 2029, and the details were still open as of October 2026. You can keep sending PDF invoices for now.
How long should affiliate marketers keep invoices?
Keep VAT records for 6 years. You can store receipts digitally in Saldiqo. The legal duty to keep records stays with you.
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As of October 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice, without guarantee. For your case ask your tax adviser.